Chapter 231 - Chapter 230: This Was Broken From The Start
A heavy silence hung in the conference room.
The [Wrath of God] that Baron Limpēre had told him about.
And the truth behind the "Battle of Daburandoru Plains" that the country had been concealing.
Mika let out a heavy sigh at these two truths, also known as the [Dies Irae].
He had thought something was being hidden, but it was something far worse than his imagination could have conceived.
(...One day, 1.6 million soldiers just disappear? No wonder the security situation got worse.)
He had heard from Gaeras that after the war, people were able to move freely across domains, causing District 3 and other areas to swell in size.
(If you lose eighty percent of your troops in a decisive battle where you gathered soldiers from all over the country, there's no way you can control the situation.)
Rather, it was probably on the brink of whether the state could even be maintained.
It wouldn't be strange if the nation collapsed.
Many noble families must have suffered significant blows, losing their heads of household or their heirs.
It is not hard to imagine that they had no time to worry about the movement of commoners.
If the commoners had risen up all at once, there was even a possibility that the royal house, which had lasted for nearly fifteen hundred years, would be overthrown.
It must have been such a crisis.
While Mika was thinking such things, Baron Limpēre cleared his throat with a "hmph."
"By the way..."
Baron Limpēre wore a somewhat troubled, ambiguous expression.
"I have also heard word that you had wings... Are they gone now?"
"Yes. .......................... Do you want to see them?"
Because he was looking at me with such eager eyes, I couldn't help but ask.
When Baron Limpēre nodded, Mika whispered "Absorb Wing" without making a sound.
At the light wings that spread out with a fusa sound, Baron Limpēre's eyes widened.
Then, his face stiffened.
"You... who are you? Are you... not a human?"
He asked such a thing seriously.
It would be troublesome if I were doubted like that...
"If I say something, will you believe it? If I say I am human, will you believe it? If I say I am not human, will you believe it?"
When Mika said that, Baron Limpēre grimaced and groaned.
Realizing that his question had no meaning, Baron Limpēre let out a sigh.
"That's right. You're right..."
After rubbing his eyes once, he looked at Mika with a serious gaze.
"Whether you are who you are or not, it does not change the fact that we were helped by you. You have the power of hundreds, perhaps even a thousand mages, all by yourself. We absolutely do not want to lose that."
It seems they want to give Mika information even by breaking the Taboo, just to dodge the country's pursuit.
However, many soldiers witnessed it, and the Kingdom Army has sent a messenger to the Royal Castle.
The report that they completely annihilated the Empire Army, turning a retreat into a victory, will reach the Royal Palace tomorrow at the latest.
Even if Marquis Leventein and Baron Limpēre keep their mouths shut, many people will report what they saw.
It is predicted that the rumor "The Apostle has appeared" will spread throughout the kingdom sooner or later.
But Mika has already made up his mind.
Whether it is a Taboo or not, they held back while possessing the means of the [Wrath of God], and as a result, the front line collapsed once.
If Mika had not intervened, the Empire Army would still be trampling through the Kingdom today.
If they are going to question Mika's crimes anyway, there is no use for such a country anymore.
Whether he quietly escapes abroad or crushes the royal house before leaving depends on his mood at the time, but well, let them decide their own fate.
If they say they will cut off Mika's head, he will just cut off their heads in return.
Mika consciously made a smile and looked at Baron Limpēre.
"I'll somehow deal with the country on that side. I understand the situation, so I'll handle this side myself."
He has no intention of dealing with perverts who like to strangle themselves, so who knows what will happen.
If they say they are enemies, he will destroy them until they are gone.
Whether it is the Gronoir Empire or the Kingdom of Ektrem.
Perhaps sensing some kind of resolve in Mika's smile, Baron Limpēre's face became serious.
"...Please, don't lose your temper."
"You should tell that to the country on that side."
When Mika said that, Baron Limpēre's face became even more serious.
Well, either way, Mika's disposition will be discussed after returning to the capital.
There is also something slightly concerning about the talk of the [Wrath of God] and such.
Regarding those matters, it will be after returning to the capital.
For now, there are other things that concern him.
"It seems the protective wall has been destroyed, what are we going to do?"
When Mika asked, Baron Limpēre made a bitter face.
It seems the situation is indeed quite severe.
"...As expected, we are still discussing what to do. Both the Domain Army and the Kingdom Army are being reorganized, so we can't get to that yet. Above all, how to procure materials like stone is also a problem, and nothing has been decided yet. I don't think the Empire will wait patiently for us to repair it."
Simply estimating, it seems it will take over a year.
That is, if procuring materials like stone goes smoothly.
It seems they are not currently using the quarry where the stone was cut when the protective wall was built.
The quarries currently available are beyond Sarbengeal.
It seems the protective wall is nearly sixty kilometers away.
"We are currently checking if the quarry from that time can be used. If that works, we will use that; if not, we will have to transport stone from Sarbengeal. There are mountains of problems, and my head hurts."
Even so, Baron Limpēre says he feels somewhat relieved considering no damage was done to the town or anything.
Well, he can only say such things for now.
The possibility of the Empire Army invading again is high.
Repairing it will probably not be in time.
...Normally.
"If we can arrange the stone, can the construction period be shortened?"
So, Mika asked Baron Limpēre.
Baron Limpēre turned a suspicious face toward Mika.
Donk! A mountain, mountain, mountain of stacked stone.
The size of each stone was one meter wide, seventy centimeters deep, and fifty centimeters high.
Stone of such perfectly uniform size, it was impossible.
Well, normally it would be impossible.
This is because Mika created the stone by spinning his magic power.
He made stones randomly, thinking "Is this what the actual stones look like?" after seeing the ones being used.
He tested the strength and other factors, found they had sufficient strength, and mass-produced them.
He was also told that a large amount of crushed stone of normal rock size was needed, so he made five large piles of that as well.
Mika thought about building the protective wall himself, but it seems there are various ways to assemble it, so just providing the materials is fine.
Each piece of stone is incredibly heavy, but are they really going to do the rest themselves?
"With this much, the materials are sufficient. The Apostle is amazing, isn't he?"
An old man who was the leader of the Domain Army's engineers let out such a comment.
He was exactly the kind of old man you'd expect from a master carpenter or the like.
This old man's atmosphere reminded him of the blacksmith he was taking care of in the capital.
"Really, I don't have to assemble it? If you give me instructions, I'll do it?"
"It's fine up to that point. We can't burden the Apostle that much."
It seems there are various things to consider when assembling it.
It seems simply stacking them and filling the inside with crushed stone is not enough.
By the way, it seems concrete is not used when assembling this protective wall.
It seems it is assembled firmly with its own weight alone.
If you carelessly fill the gaps with concrete or soil, rainwater can accumulate inside and cause it to collapse.
They are thinking about various things.
Well, if they say it's fine, he will leave that part to the craftsmen.
But...
"How long until it is completed?"
"Well, it won't take a month, I suppose. Although, it depends on how many hands you assign."
"A month..."
Will the Empire behave quietly until then?
Well, he has already intervened once.
If the next time looks bad, he might forcibly flip the situation of the battle.
That depends on how the country acts, though.
"I understand. Then, leave the rest to you."
"Yes, leave it to me. Thanks, Apostle."
The old man patted his chest with a thud.
As Mika nodded and slowly flew up, cheers rose from all over.
"Apostle!"
"Thank you!"
Mika waved back at the Domain Army and Kingdom Army soldiers who were waving or bowing, and flew toward Sarbengeal.
"Now..."
Mika muttered that, and looked down at the ground with cold eyes.
After finishing preparing the materials for the protective wall, Mika returned to Sarbengeal to report.
Then, he went to the garrison of the Kingdom Army.
The Kingdom Army stationed here is in charge of hunting down the remnants of the Empire Army.
The Domain Army is also sending soldiers, but Baron Limpēre told him that the units here are mainly in charge.
"Is this it?"
The place he was guided to was a deep forest spanning the domains of Marquis Leventein and Baron Limpēre.
Because of this forest, the two domains cannot have a direct road connecting them.
And it seems some remnants of the Empire Army have fled into such a forest.
"...Can't we just leave them alone?"
When Mika said that, the knight who seemed to be the captain made a difficult face.
"You think so too? I think so too..."
Powerful beasts or monsters seem to live in this forest, which is why it remains untouched.
Mika doesn't know what kind of beast it is either, but shouldn't they leave it alone?
"Can the remnants of the Empire Army who entered this forest come out alive? Besides, if you interfere carelessly, you will provoke that monster."
There is a possibility that they will be hunted by the monster instead while hunting the remnants, and above all, the worst case is that such a monster comes out of the forest.
Well, Mika does want to see that monster too. ...Just a little.
Really, just a little, okay?
(If you interfere carelessly, it could turn into a major disaster. At the very least, you should check information at the Adventurer's Guild and prepare before tackling it.)
Even for the reckless Mika, he was reluctant to touch this place.
...For now.
The knight captain nodded at Mika's opinion.
But his expression looked painful.
"...Is something wrong?"
When Mika asked, the knight captain let out a heavy sigh.
"Actually, several people who were chasing the remnants..."
"They went in!?"
His voice unintentionally grew loud.
"Why again..."
When Mika said it with an exasperated look, the knight captain, looking utterly defeated, explained the circumstances simply.
It seems several knights from outside the Hailhord Region, who had just graduated from the Knight Academy this year, entered without listening to the senior knights' warnings.
It seems they noticed remnants outside the forest and became engrossed in chasing them.
That was this morning.
And now, it is almost evening.
There are still a few hours until sunset, but it will get pitch black inside the forest soon.
"As expected, it's better to give up..."
"Yes, I suppose so."
The knight captain seemed to feel responsible that the young knights had entered the forest.
Seeing that expression, Mika let out a sigh.
"Haa... It can't be helped. Just a little bit, okay?"
"Will you go?"
When Mika said that, the knight captain bowed his head and said "I'm sorry."
"If we are unlucky, it may already be too late. Even if we don't find them, I will retreat after searching a little."
"Yes, that is enough. Thank you, Apostle."
His nickname has completely become 'Apostle' now.
Mika took out a Short Sword from his Magic Bag and put the scabbard back into the Magic Bag.
This Short Sword was not the "Orichalcum," a rare copper-type metal, but the one he bought at a normal weapon shop.
The Holy Sword Namakura-sama (Orichalcum) is fine for this time.
It doesn't cut anyway, Namakura-sama.
It is just a blunt weapon that merely resembles a Short Sword.
"Even if I don't return, please come back before sunset. I'll be fine."
If it comes to it, he can just fly, so there is not much problem even if he enters the deep part of the forest.
And so, Mika entered the reluctant exploration of the forest.
...I'm not excited at all?
This is unavoidable.
He advanced toward the depths of the forest for about thirty minutes.
He deployed his magic range and swam smoothly through the dim forest.
If someone saw Mika right now, they would want to give him a harsh word to be more careful.
But Mika was advancing carefully enough.
He also activated "Big Ear" and concentrated all his nerves on surrounding vigilance.
(...It's more normal than I thought.)
Normally, Sou-Labi and Koot Viper appear.
There were also monsters he had never seen, like insects and birds.
Mika discovered and killed them instantly with "Air Cutter."
After advancing another thirty minutes or so, Mika found a human being deep in the forest.
"Is this... the Empire Army...?"
The shape of the leather armor was that of the Empire Army.
Equipment for six people of the Empire Army was scattered on the ground, and the remains of soldiers turned to stone were rolling around.
He noticed they were originally human because there were remains of hands and faces, but the quantity was abnormally small.
Even if you gathered them all up, it wouldn't amount to one person.
(Petrification... Well, I do have [Resistance to Petrification] in my full-power bracelet.)
Adelriese has also told him not to overtrust it.
It does not invalidate the effect, it only raises resistance.
(...The classics of petrification are Gorgon, Cockatrice, Basilisk.)
Well, it is one of the popular status abnormalities that often appear in fantasy stories.
And, as expected, Mika does not have a technique to treat such things.
He cautiously touches one of the remains, but it seems different from a curse.
He didn't feel anything like a curse in particular.
"Where are the Kingdom Army knights...?"
If the Empire Army that chased them are these petrified soldiers here, where are the actual Kingdom Army knights?
(The Empire Army soldiers fled, and the place they fled to was here. And they were petrified by a monster? Then, where are the Kingdom Army knights who were chasing them?)
The Empire Army soldiers who caught up were petrified.
Normally, if you saw such a thing, you would turn back.
But, they didn't turn back?
Why?
Mika lightly looked around and squatted down to observe the traces on the ground.
There he noticed.
...Going outward?
Looking closely, the petrified soldiers seemed to be heading toward the outside of the forest, as if petrified.
It is just that, looking at the faint footprints left behind, that is Mika's impression.
(Could it be they went even deeper? Were the Kingdom Army knights even deeper?)
And something happened there.
The Kingdom Army knights became unable to move there, and the Empire Army soldiers fled up to here.
If that was the flow, well, without even confirming, the Kingdom Army knights are probably gone too.
So, can I go back now?
Mika stood up scratching his head with a kari-kari sound and glared at the depths of the forest.
Well, he thinks they are ninety-nine percent gone, but he will aim for the depths just in case.
If even one person is still alive, he wants to save them.
Mika gathered his spirit and aimed for the depths of the forest again.
In front of Mika's eyes was a plaza, and there was some kind of ruin.
Perhaps it is a ruin of a prehistoric civilization.
Mika, who had advanced into the depths of the forest looking for the Kingdom Army knights, discovered the ruin.
And near that ruin was a stone that looked like a Kingdom Army knight.
The reason he says "looks like" is because he cannot approach it.
He cannot confirm it up close.
So, he can only say it "looks like."
(...Are they having a meal? Troublesome.)
Near the stone that looked like a knight, there were many scary things he had never seen before.
They were probably eating the petrified knight vigorously.
Multi-headed snakes.
Half-human, half-snake monsters with four arms.
They are probably what are called Hydras or Nagas.
Both are slightly taller than an adult human.
For a moment, he thought the half-human, half-snake one was a Gorgon, but its hair was not snakes.
Still, it is safe to assume these creatures have petrification abilities.
Above all, these are not just monsters.
In the indigenous faiths and legends of his original world, they are beings positioned as 'Gods.'
To be honest, it's too dangerous.
Moreover, there are at least ten of them at a glance.
This is a no-go.
(...So, let's withdraw.)
Mika quietly retreated so as not to provoke the group of monsters.
But, at that time, someone came into Mika's magic range.
The one who entered came rushing at Mika without making a sound.
(Damn, I was found. And super fast.)
In terms of the form grasped by the magic range, it was the Hydra.
Mika quickly jumped and tried to escape as is.
But the Hydra also jumped with amazing speed and approached Mika.
"No way!?"
With mobility from "Blast," he couldn't move that briskly.
Mika instinctively closed his eyes and pointed the Short Sword at the Hydra.
(I don't know the conditions for petrification! Is it looking at it? Is it being bitten? Is it the breath?)
Mika slashed the Hydra to pieces with forty times Physical Enhancement.
During that time, the group of monsters that were having a meal also noticed Mika's presence and jumped at him.
"Tch!"
Mika clicked his tongue, gave up on escaping as is, and landed on the ground.
It seems difficult to even escape unless he beats these guys to some extent.
Once he lands on the ground, Mika's full-power mobility exceeds the speed of sound.
Dodging the monsters' fierce attacks, Mika slashed the Hydra repeatedly with the Short Sword.
Gakinn!
However, the half-human, half-snake Naga blocked the Short Sword Mika swung down with a sword held in both hands.
At that time, Mika's Short Sword broke.
It seems the commercially available Short Sword could not withstand Mika's full power.
"Damn it!"
The sword held by the half-human, half-snake Naga seems to be quite good.
Only Mika's Short Sword broke.
The half-human, half-snake Naga skillfully used his four arms and rained slashes on Mika.
Mika dodged the fierce attack while surrounded by the half-human, half-snake Naga and the Hydra.
While dodging, he used "Stone Bullet" and "Air Cutter" to deal damage to the monsters.
At that time, something creepy crawled up his back.
Mika instinctively jumped diagonally forward and escaped outside the gap in the encirclement.
At that moment, the Hydra behind Mika seemed to have breathed.
Probably, that is one of the causes of petrification.
Since there may be other means, he will keep his eyes closed just in case.
"Really! You're too persistent!"
I'm sorry, so please, go back.
Thinking that in his heart, Mika took out the Holy Sword Namakura-sama (Orichalcum) from his Magic Bag.
"Huh!!!"
Mika charged with full power and ran wildly through the group of half-human, half-snake Nagas and Hydras.
And so, he smashed them all to death with the full-power Namakura-sama.
Guchadoshabuchagiginsogushuguchaginnudshaguchagoshu!!!
He crushed the heads of the Hydras as he passed by, and while snapping the swords of the half-human, half-snake Nagas, he crushed their heads.
Even in such a situation, Mika's mood was rising higher and higher.
Before he realized it, the corners of his mouth had risen.
(No, no. Carelessness is forbidden.)
Mika dodged the sword of the half-human, half-snake Naga by lowering his head and consciously tightened his expression.
It is Mika's troubling disease that he gets excited automatically when there are strong monsters.
Due to Mika, who raged wildly like a storm, the group of monsters instantly turned into a mountain of corpses.
Including the half-human, half-snake Nagas and Hydras that had gathered from somewhere, he instantly built a mountain of corpses.
"Fuuuuuuuuuu......!"
Mika swung Namakura-sama with a byu sound, flying off the blood slime, and pointed Namakura-sama at the one half-human, half-snake Naga that remained.
"You are the only one left."
Mika muttered with his eyes closed.
The sword held by this half-human, half-snake Naga seemed different from the others.
No matter how many times Mika slashed, they were all blocked.
The other half-human, half-snake Nagas had smashed them to death along with their swords.
Of course, this half-human, half-snake Naga would not understand Mika's words.
But, he slowly twisted his four arms, as if saying "Come anytime."
"Good. Let's go?"
Saying that, Mika instantly turned behind the half-human, half-snake Naga.
The half-human, half-snake Naga skillfully did a half-turn and aimed for Mika's neck with a horizontal slash.
Mika deflected that sword with Namakura-sama and unleashed a full-power barrage.
Gigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigiginn!!!
Mika's fierce attack like when he fought against Yaroibarov and Ozendorwa.
Unstoppable continuous strikes from vertical, horizontal, diagonal, up, and down.
But, the half-human, half-snake Naga blocked all those strikes.
He used his four arms to the fullest and managed to defend against Mika's fierce attack.
(No way!? Even Yaroibarov couldn't block it!)
No matter how many arms he has, he shouldn't be able to block it like that.
(This guy is really strong!)
Gagin! Gucha!
But, that end came suddenly.
One of the swords held by the half-human, half-snake Naga could not withstand Namakura-sama and broke.
Mika's swung Namakura-sama crushed the head of the half-human, half-snake Naga, and he managed to defeat him.
Mika stood there motionless for a while.
"Haaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh......!"
And so, Mika exhaled deeply and slowly opened his eyes.
Probably, it should be fine now.
Mika looked down at the half-human, half-snake Naga who showed strength he never imagined.
And, he involuntarily put his hands together and prayed for their peace.
He was strong.
He was really strong.
He never thought there were monsters this strong.
The only thing that separated victory and defeat was the difference in weapons.
Mika untied his joined hands and picked up the sword held by the half-human, half-snake Naga.
It is a rare sword.
A sword with a shape that twists and turns like a snake.
"Sorry. Can I take this?"
Muttering such things, Mika picked up all four swords and put them in his Magic Bag.
One was broken, but he carefully put that away too.
Mika wanted to have this half-human, half-snake Naga's sword.
He doesn't know of any other monster with such strength.
He wanted to keep it so he wouldn't forget this half-human, half-snake Naga.
"Thank you."
There is no thank you for taking it without permission, but those words just came out.
At that time, Mika noticed that a part of the ruin was flickering with light.
He didn't notice because he was engrossed in the battle with the half-human, half-snake Naga.
In the first place, since he kept his eyes closed during the battle, it is natural that he wouldn't notice.
When Mika went to the glowing place in the ruin, the corpse of a Hydra was lying there.
And, the blood of that Hydra was attached to something that looked like a flickering Spaelement.
Hmm... Mika pondered.
Probably, this Hydra was one of the ones Mika blew away just now.
And it hit this Spaelement.
Then, for some reason, this Spaelement started flickering?
Mika tilted his head.
"Ahahaha..."
No way, that's stupid.
"It's a ruin from five thousand to eight thousand years ago."
There is no way it would operate.
This must be some mistake.
It's a hallucination.
While Mika was thinking such things, a pusu-pusu sound began to come from the Spaelement, and smoke rose from around it.
"Whoa!? Dangerous!?"
Mika instinctively took distance.
At that moment, a bofu sound rose with smoke.
And, the flickering of the Spaelement stopped.
".........................................................."
Could it be... I broke it...?
...............
"N-no way. It was definitely broken from the start."
What are you saying?
There's no way something from five thousand years ago would move?
"Well, the quest is over, so let's go back."
Mika spoke out loud as if convincing himself.
Unfortunately, the knights became monster food.
It was a sad, truly unfortunate incident.
"So, good work."
Mika bowed slightly toward the half-human, half-snake Naga and decided to return from the sky.
Just in case, he doused the ruin that was emitting smoke with "Water Splash" splashing it all over.
Forest fires are scary, after all.
And, when he went to the Sarbengeal Adventurer's Guild, only one new type of magic power was detected.
That strong half-human, half-snake Naga, could it have been a mutated species?
And... there is a story that the monster living in that forest is a ferocious beast.
Could there be a monster even stronger than that strong half-human, half-snake Naga in that forest?